Electric iron handle construction



Dec. 15, 1953 J. R. GoMERsALI. ET Al. 2,662,317

ELECTRIC IRON HANDLE CNSTRUCTION Original Filed April 2, 1945 KQ Q 4.40 u C@ V mls ooM . INVENToRs. MURRAY [RELA/VD By JOHN/E1. @0m-RSA Patented Dec. 15, 1953 ELECTRIC IRON HANDLE CONSTRUCTION John R. Slomersall and Murray. Ireland, Elgin, Ill., ass1gnors to McGrawV Electric Company, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application April 2, 1945, Serial No.

586,099, now Patent No. 2,585,928, dated February 19, 1952. Divided and this application February 18, 1952, Serial No. 272,222' 'i 6 Claims.

y Our invention relates to sadirons and particularly to electrically heated sadirons. The same constitutes one of the various inventions originally included in our prior copending application Ser. No. 586,099, iiled April 2, 1945, now Patent No. 2,585,928, granted February 19, 1952, to which the present application is related as a divisional application.

A As conventionally constructed electric iron handle includes a horizontal grip portion of non- .'r'netal heat-insulating material adapted to be held by the hand for ironing operation and integral back and front supporting posts for mounting the grip portion on the body of an electric iron. It is common also to mount a manual adjusting knob or `wheel on the front end of the handle grip portion for adjusting thermostatic heat control mechanism within the body of the iron which controls operation of the iron electric heating element and to connect the adjusting knob or wheel with the control mechanism by actuating mechanism housed in the front handle supporting post.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved handle construction for irons which reduces the transmission of heat to the grip portion of a handle without sacrificing the main advantages of the above-described prior handle construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved handle construction having only a single handle supporting post at the back and with independent structure adjacent the front end of the handle grip portion where commonly there is a front supporting post integral with the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved iron handle construction which permits a manual adjusting knob or handle to be mounted separately from the front end of a handle grip portion but accessible to the thumb and linger of a hand on the grip portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved iron handle construction having only a single integral supporting post at the rear thereof in conjunction with a separate post at the front which resembles an integral front post but which is actually spaced from the front end of the handle grip portion.

Other objects of our invention will either be apparent from a description of one form of device embodying our invention or will be set forth in the course of such description andy particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

.Figure 1 is a longitudinal, .sectional view through the centerof an iron embodying our invention, Y

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the indicator in the handle, l

Fig. 3 is a lateraL-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse sectional view of the front end of the handle grip portion, and, l

Fig. 5 is a top View of the front column wit certain associated parts shown in section.

The novel handle' construction of the present invention is shown in conjunction with an electric iron construction in accordance with our afore-mentioned application Serial No. 586,099.

f Such iron comprises a relatively thin metal sole plate 33, a relatively thin top plate 35 and .a planar electric heating element 31 sandwiched between such plates. According to our aforementioned application, plates 33 and 35 are brazed together under brazing heat and high pressure at their margins to provide a thermally efficient unit. A portion 19 oi brazing lm which units the Vmargins is shown in Fig. l adjacent heel 9| of the sole plate.

Secured in recesses in sole plate 33 and extending upwardly through the top plate are metal assembly or supporting plugs 1| and 13 located in longitudinally spaced relation at the center line of the plates. Mounted on the front plug is a U-shaped supporting bracket |43. Another differently shaped supporting bracket |25 is mounted on rear plug 13. A cover or casing |41 is provided, the lower edge of which is adapted to rest upon the outer peripheral surface of top plate 35. The rear portion of casing |41 is secured to bracket |25 by a singlescrew |65. A rear closure plate |61 is provided and is held by a single short screw |69 which engages the lower end of bracket |25. The further portion of the iron proper shown in Figs. 1 and 3 includes an automatically operated control switch mechanism for heating element 31. The same includes a lower contact bar |01 and an upper contact bar |2| mounted in insulated relation on rear plug 13. Contact bar 01 extends substantially longitudinally of the iron and has a contact member |21 adjacent its outer end. A coacting contact member |35 is carried by the outer end of contact bar |2|. The two bars |01 and |2| are made of spring metal and biased downwardly. An upwardly biased further spring `arm ||5 is mounted in insulated relation on plug 13 and extends forwardly between contact bars |11 and 2| being apertured for passage therethrough of. contact .member |35. Through manually actuated control mechanism,

3 hereafter to be referred to, spring arm coacts with an insulated bushing |39 mounted on contact bar |21 for adjusting the switch to cause the heating element 31 to operate at selected ironing temperatures.

The control switch is automatically operated in response to the temperature of sole plate 33 by a bimetal thermostat member 43 of sheet material and rectangular shape housed in a chamber or recess 4| in the sole plate and explained in detail in our copending application Serial No. 272,221, filed February 18, 1952. A thin metal cover 41 overlies bimetal member 43 and A'closes the top of chamber 4|. An actuating pin |33 engages the midpoint of bimetal member 43 at its lower end and engages at its upper end an insulated bushing |29 on lower contact bar |01. Pin |33 is supported by an insulated bushing 15 secured in top plate 35 and extends downwardly into chamber 4| through a hole in cover 41. The opposite ends of bimetal member 43 are loosely held in position by depressed portions 5| on plate 41. Temperature changes of the sole plate cause the bimetal member to warp verticallyl and through actuating pin |33 to adjustthe position of contact bar |01.

The handle construction of the present invention includes a main handle grip portion |5| having an integral handle supporting post |53 adjacent its rear end portion and made of a heat and electric insulating material. The rear handle post or support |53 is adapted to be secured to intermediate spacing plate |55 by a plurality of short screws |51 and spacers |59. Plate |55 is adapted to be secured against a cooperating surface of casing |41 by a plurality of short screws ISI, there being spacing members |63 located therebetween. The rear end portion of the handle is adapted to be held in proper position on the casing by the same single screw |65 which, as earlier stated, secures the casing to rear bracket |25.

The structure located below the front end |52 of handle grip portion |5| is independent thereof, the handle being entirely supported through rear supporting post |53. Such structure includes a hollow front member or column |1| of the same material as the handle but formed separately therefrom. The upper end of column 1| is `entirely out of engagement with the front end of handle grip portion |5| being slightly spaced therefrom'. as shown in Fig. 1. Through such arrangement there is less transmission of heat from the iron body to the front end of the handle grip portion than where the handle is provided, as commonly, with an integral front supporting post.

The lower surface of column |1| has `secured thereagainst a spacing plate |13 by a plurality of short screws |15 `with spacers |11 therebetween. Spacing l plate |13 is secured against casing |41 by a single short screw |19 which is threaded in the upper fend of bracket |43.

After assembly of the iron in case it is desired to remove the handle .and zcas'ing, it is only necessary to 'remove -screw '|69 as well as closure plate |51, `after which removal of screws |65 and |19 permits a removal :of the :handle and casing and removal also =of 'front Icolumn vrlhe handle construction described lpermits manual adjusting A`mechanism for the 'thermost'atically operated switch .in 'the iron body to be mounted beneath fand independently of the iront end of the handle 'grip portion and fadap'ted for operation by 'the 'thumb and 'ringer -of ca hand while holding the grip portion. The independent front column |1| is adapted to serve as a housing for such manual adjusting mechanism. We have shown a. manual adjusting mechanism constructed in accordance with our copending application, Serial Number 272,223, led February 18, 1952. As more fully described therein, such mechanism includes a control shaft |83, supported in opening |8| of column |11 and the lower end of which is threaded for engaging supporting bracket |43 through an opening |49 in casing |51. The lower end of control shaft |83 engages the front end of upwardly biased spring arm H5. Rotation of shaft |83 in reverse directions causes spring arm ||5 to move upwardly and downwardly. The upper end portion of control shaft |83 is splined interiorly of a hollow control wheel hub I9! for rotation therewith and axial movement independently thereof. Threaded to control wheel hub |9| and housedpin a recess near the top ci? column |1| is a control wheel` |91. Such control wheel is adapted to be rotated by the thumb and finger of a hand holding handle grip portion |5|. Rotation of the wheel rotates shaft |03.

It is to be noted that the outer periphery of control wheel |91 may be provided with utes 2|| forrconvenience of the operator and that these utes extend outwardly beyond the periphery of column lll for engagement by the thumb and nger, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The upper end portion of column |1| may be provided with a recess 205 through which extends a rotatable combined indicating and wheel stop member |99. Such member is splined to the upper end of wheel hub |9| and is secured thereto by a screw 203. A projection 201 is provided intermediate the ends oi member |99 and a cooperating stationary stop 299 is provided in recess 205 in a predetermined position to prevent excess rotaryv adjusting movements by the operator turning the control wheel. Member |9| is initially secured on hub |99 so as to engage the stop when control shaft |83 causes switch contacts |35 and |21 to just engage when the iron is cold.

While member |99 is supported independently of the handle as just explained, it projects upwardly through an opening in the front end of handle grip portion |5| and a coasting stationary indicator 2|3 may be positioned in a recess in the upper portion of the front end of handle portion |'5|. Such recess is further provided with covering extensions 215 and 2|1 extending towards each other as shown in Fig. 4 and Va transparent cover 2|9 `is positioned in the recess thus constituted.

A pair y.0f electric terminals 223 and 225 are secured in a urecess 221 in the rear handle post |53, such recess being `of substantially L-shaped. Plate ||9 connects one ofjsuch terminals with contact bar A|2.| of .the control switch and a terminal lead 4229 connects :the other terminal to the `electric heating element 3 1. A single lead connects switch contact bar |01 through a further lead |09 with the heating element. A vtwin conductor supply cord L23| vextends through handle post |53 in to recess v221 to connect with terminals 2.23 and 225. A spring post 233 surrounds cord 23| externally .0f the handle to pre.- vent kinking. ,A ipair of jthumb rests 231 and 239 are provided at ithefront end of handle portion |5|, thumb rest '1231 being adapted for -a right-handed user, while a left-handed user will use thumbzrestZSS.

It will be evident that the independent front column Ill may be formed and disposed in relation to the handle grip portion as to resemble a front supporting post integral with the handle. It has the advantage, however, that because of its spacing from the front end of the handle grip portion it will not conduct heat upwardly thereto. Further, column I'Il may serve as a housing for a manual control mechanism for an iron control switch and support a control wheel or knob, such as |91, independently of the handle but in position to be conveniently adjusted by a hand holding the handle.

Various modications may be made in our invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and all such modifications coming clearly within the scope of the appended claims are considered to be a part of our invention.

We claim:

1. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on Said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing and an upstanding front column having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion disposed adjacent, but spaced from, said front end portion of said handle so as to avoid transmitting heat from the iron to the handle. 2. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing, and an upstanding front column having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion underlying said front end portion of said handle in vertically spaced adjacent relation.

3. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing, and an upstanding front column of heat-insulating material having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion in spaced adjacent relation to said front end portion of said handle, and said upper portion of said front column being formed to receive a manually adjustable rotary control member.

4. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing, and an upstanding front column of heat-insulating material having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion underlying said front end portion of said handle in vertically spaced adjacent relation, and said upper end portion of said front column being formed to receive a manually adjustable rotary control member.

5. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing, and an upstanding front column of heat-insulating material having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion in spaced adjacent relation to said front end portion of said handle, said front column having a lengthwise extending hollow area adapted to receive an elongated adjustable control member and said upper end portion of said front column having hollow areas adapted to receive a manually adjustable rotary member for adjusting such an elongated control member.

6. An electric iron comprising an electrically heated iron body, a casing secured on said iron body, a handle of heat-insulating material having front and rear end portions and an intermediate handle grip portion, a handle support integral with the rear end portion of said handle secured on said casing and supporting the front end portion and grip portion of said handle in spaced vertical relation to said casing, and an upstanding front column of heat-insulating material having its lower end secured on said casing and having its upper end portion in spaced adjacent relation to said front end portion of said handle, said front column having a lengthwise extending hollow area adapted to receive an elongated adjustable control member and said upper end portion having a hollow area communicating with, and of greater cross section than, said lengthwise extending hollow area and adapted to receive a manually adjustable rotary member for adjusting such an elongated control member.

v JOHN R. GOMERSALL.

MURRAY IRELAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,164,287 Beyar June 27, 1939 2,403,115 Olving July 2, 1946 2,457,185 Sparklin Dec. 28, 1948 

